BUSINESS BRIEFS: Postal Savings, Allergy Trainings, Prepzilla, and More

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Postal Center International Offers savings on July 9 Postage Hike

For the second time this year, the US Postal Service (USPS) will be increasing its postage fees to combat rising operational costs. In anticipation of the July 9 increase, Florida-headquartered mail industry giant, Postal Center International (PCI), which recently opened a major facility in Franklin, is encouraging forward-thinking businesses to take advantage of PCI’s mail solutions to reduce the impact of these rising costs. “At PCI, we remain committed to our client-centric values and we’re, once again, bringing new solutions and savings strategies to our clients and prospects, helping them mitigate the impact of the upcoming postage rate increase,” said Ismael Diaz, [photo above] President and CEO at the 39-year-old PCI, a leading print, mail, fulfillment, signs, and marketing solutions organization. “Our combination of cost and operating improvement strategies will assist in reducing the effects of this new round of increases as well as improving results. Our team is available and prepared to offer companies a complimentary print and mail assessment to identify and pinpoint savings opportunities while minimizing their print, mail, and marketing spend. For information go to https://pcibrands.com

Restaurants Could Face New Allergy Training Reg.

Filed by Sen. Cynthia Creem and Rep. Carmine Gentile, the bills (S 1338 and H 2183)would require the Department of Public Health certification for food protection managers to use an updated video that is approved or accredited by certain national groups, is interactive, and that features the most up-to-date list of allergens labeled under the Food Allergy Label Consumer Protection Act. Restaurants would be required to have at least one employee who has watched the video as part of a food protection manager course on duty whenever food is being served. Creem and Gentile said the idea of the legislation is to build upon a 2009 law that required restaurants to post food allergy information in kitchens and put a line on menus telling customers to inform their server of any allergies.

MassBenchmarks Sees Some Optimism

The most recent MassBenchmarks Board meeting began with a review of economic data showing slowing growth, a number of growing concerns heading into 2023, as well as some better-than-expected bright spots on the payroll employment and demographic sides. Payroll employment continues to expand and the unemployment rate remains low, but real gross domestic product in Massachusetts, recently on par with U.S. averages, is now underperforming the nation’s. On the positive side, most major industry sectors, with the exception of finance, are showing payroll jobs growth through early 2023. Somewhat of a surprise compared to previous trends, Massachusetts has shown a recent, though hesitant, uptick in the size of its labor force and working age population. Consistent with past meetings, the Board continues to have a number of concerns about underlying weaknesses as well as structural issues that could chip away at the longer-term competitiveness of the Massachusetts economy.

Single-Family Home, Condo Prices Remain Relatively Flat in May

Sales activity for both single-family homes and condominiums continued to decline in May, as the median sale prices remained relatively flat, according to a new report from The Warren Group, a leading provider of national real estate and transaction data. Last month, there were 3,611 single-family home sales in Massachusetts, a 25.1 percent decrease from May 2022 when there were 4,818 transactions. Meanwhile, the median single-family sale price fell by just 0.2 percent on a year-over-year basis to $589,000, down from $590,000 in May 2022. This marked the second consecutive month that the median single-family home price declined on a year-over-year basis. "With 3,611 sales recorded and a noticeable 25.1 percent dip in year-over-year figures, the single- family market continues to exhibit trends we’ve seen in recent months,” said Cassidy Norton, Associate Publisher and Media Relations Director of The Warren Group. “The big differentiator in May is that the median single-family home price declined for the second straight month on a year- over-year basis. With elevated interest rates, it’s even more expensive for buyers to purchase homes, and price trends are reflecting that.”

Prepzilla Introduced by Esco Tool

Esco Tool, Holliston, has introduced a new I.D. clamping pipe beveler that features robust construction to bevel highly alloyed materials such as super duplex and P-91 without requiring cutting fluids. The Prepzilla MILLHOG® Pipe Beveling Machine is a self-centering I.D. clamping pipe weld preparation tool that features robust construction with proprietary bearings, gears, and heat-treated hardened clamping. Ideal for highly alloyed materials such as super duplex stainless steel and P-91, it has a blade lock system with cutting blades that transfer heat away from the pipe surface to prevent work hardening without using cutting fluids.